>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of

companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> report murdoch says that he will appear before british lawmakers. the u.s. some of the fbi source her own investigations. the senate has approved cuts and tax increases. -- the fbi started their own investigations. forced into hiding as the crackdown in syria continues, we crossed the border to get a rare look at how thousands of families are living. this is "bbc news." we have handled the crisis well

in every way possible, making minor mistakes. those of the words of rupert murdoch in an interview with his own paper, "the wall street journal." there is an investigation that news corp. was hacking into the phones of people. >> parliament has cost them the news of the world, but they would like to hold rebecca broke and -- rebekah brooks and james murdoch to account. this was a summons they could not ignore. >> do the decent thing. the cannot hide away from this level of public anguish. -- you cannot hide away. >> at first, they were reluctant

witnesses. rupert murdoch said that he could not attend the session but he was willing to give testimony is an inquiry. rebekah brooks said that "i am available to appear before the committee and welcome the opportunity to do so." she said she would not be able to discuss anything about the police investigation. there was a formal summons. there can even be imprisonment. the threat had worked. the murdochs said they would come and answer the questions. >> in a letter, james murdoch said "i am now coming. i would like to answer them in a different forum."

the questions keep coming. why did the news of the world mislead parliament? why did the management failed to find out what was going on and stop it? as for rebekah brooks, we ask about what she told the mps. the mp whose committee will be asking the question was optimistic. >> i hope the committee will want to hear the truth. this is not about a lynch mob or an opportunity. >> the lawyer representing the family of the girl his phone was tapped as his doubts. >> we will be skeptical. we will see the three monkeys. they will say -- no one was speaking about this. >> in an interview, rupert murdoch insisted that his company had handled the crisis extremely well and he denied he would sell his newspapers.

he said that he would work to establish his integrity. this scene is set for an extraordinary confrontation between parliament and the press. a chance for parliament to discuss these issues. >> austerity is the word and condition that many europeans have been forced to adopt even though it sparked massive protests. on thursday, the senate passed their own cost-cutting package which comes after investors started to worry that the third largest economy could be the next to go into the debt crisis. the measures go to the lower house of parliament on friday. we have more from rome. >> italy, ever aware of battles past, is told that it is on the front line in the current battle over the eurozone crisis. the reason is that.

-- debt. today, the italian senate debated an emergency package brought forward to calm the markets. the italian finance minister told the ministers that the country was watching. he warned that the public debt could devour the future and the future of our children. passions ran high. topics leisure -- public sector wages will be frozen. the italian parliament looks set to pass this parliament -- this measure in five days. >> we're dealing with the defense of the european currency. an attack that has been going on in the italian markets and this is not against italy, this is against the european currency. >> here is their problem. they are looking to make 42 billion pounds in savings over three years.

they are under pressure because their debt is 120% of gdp. their total debt is 1.6 trillion pounds. if italy really gets into trouble, they're simply too big to be rescued. italy has impressive designers and world famous brands. what this masks is low productivity and low growth. some of those who opposed the yesterday package fear that without growth, italy cannot escape their problems. >> we need to put this on the table but this is not enough. you cannot put that if you do not promote growth. we will be back to square one. >> of financial markets also remain wary. most of the savings will not take effect until 2013. italy's's costs are not as high but close to being unsustainable. costs are borrwing

not as high. the real focus remains so way from here increase stand there are still deep divisions over how to organize a second bailout. -- the real focus remains far away from here in greece. >> a new camp for refugees fleeing across the border from the drought and conflict of somalia will open. the one built a camp in kenya last year. this was intended for emergencies. officials said shut -- officials shut this down. they would now open it with in the next 10 days. >> time is the best since in this matter. -- time is of essence in this

matter. we have an obligation to support our brothers and sisters who are dealing with death and insecurity. >> , the u.n. general assembly has voted to recognize the south sudan. the security council recommended that the south sudan be admitted. an american satellite monitoring group shows evidence of mass graves in it be -- in the sudanese region. there are three apparent graves with more than 100 bodies. to syria, the dead the protests continue against the rule of president assad. -- deadly protests continue

against the role of president assad. around 1400 civilians and 350 security personnel have died. foreign journalists are not free to travel in syria. we have a report from the border. >> this is the only way to report freely in syria. taking the smugglers route through the mountains. everyone treads carefully to avoid the border patrol. the patrol passes and we're told to run. since this conflict began, the syrian regime has tried to control what the world sees and hears. we have come to find out more.

we are now traveling on the syrian side of the border. we're having to keep a pretty low profile. we're actually in the back of a farmer's truck. we're told that the military is in this area and this is not safe to be in the open for long. the security forces have tried to crush anti-government protests here forcing more people to leave their towns and villages. we are taking to a camp in the woods, it is not much but there is hope. thousands of families have been forced into hiding and they treat strangers with caution. some have been here for months. they all have a story to tell and it is remarkable how similar they are. terrorized by government attacks, living in fear from a late-night visit from the thugs who do the dirty work.

what has life been here for his wife and children? >> at the army and the secret police move around in the trees to check on the people. they want to catch people and to plant weapons on them and to accuse them of being criminals. they went into our houses and villages and damage them. that is why no one will return to their homes. >> the syrian army keeps it off line. they have taken sides with the regime. now, the testimony of what that means. this is a soldier from damascus. he deserted after being given an order he could not follow. he was given a gun and live ammunition and told to shoot unarmed protesters. look at this demonstration in damascus. the bbc has been given this footage which shows what happens to those who protest.

it appears that the floods -- the thugs beat those who want to change. this is now a fight for their future. this is a battle for the shape of this region. this revolution is going to be a long bloody struggle for their freedom. >> some breaking news now, standard and poor's has said that could downgrade america's debt rating but the u.s. treasury is forced to prioritize their payments. the aaa rating is the best possible but that has come into question in the recent days. they's said that if congress fails to act, the rating could slip. this is "bbc news," still ahead. india on high alert. security has intensified after

the bomb attack. now to afghanistan where five people were killed today in a blast inside of a mosque. the attack was carried out by a man who hid explosives in his turban. this took place during a memorial service for president karzai's brother, ahmad wali karzai. four more of his brothers and the governor of kandahar were in the mosque at the time but they were not heard. >> and other deadly attack in the heart of kandahar. officials were attending a service for the president's brother when the bomber struck. the police security area. among the dead, an influential clear --

among the dead, an influential cleric opposed to the taliban. the brunt of this attack was borne by ordinary afghans. late on wednesday, six villagers died in a raid during an operation to flush out insurgents from near the pakistan border. among the victims, women and children. this has led to a wave of anger among afghans. the protests have taken place pressing for the withdrawal of western forces. that is about to happen. some are wondering, at what cost. starting next week and over the next several months, several troops will begin the withdrawal from afghanistan and handing over security to local afghan forces. questions are raised about whether they are ready to take over, especially after these

killings. >> this is "bbc news, the headlines -- the fbi opened an investigation into news corp. to investigate allegations that his reporters to hack into the phones of 9/11 victims. italy faces severe financial problems. nations from across southeast asia will meet in indonesia for the regional forum on sunday where disputes in the south china sea will dominate the agenda. china has clashed with vietnam and the philippines over the region. other influential countries will also be at the forum.

can they look into this dispute? >> that is the problem. they are a fair host. china has been saying that this should be bilateral. denise to be some restraint from vietnam and the philippines. they have been kind of noisy. >> china has been described as bullying. is it? >> anytime a much larger country comes up against smaller countries, it would be easy to accuse it of bullying. china has had mixed signals. economically, they are a major partner. on the political and military

front, we have seen a more aggressive china. the rise has caused nervousness. are they a bully, i'm not sure. >> on a surge of china but also you have the u.s. as well involved in these talks. will there be fireworks? >> last year, secretary of state clinton raised this issue. the americans are part of the region and they are here to stay despite all of their concerns at home. i hope that -- does not come to this area between these two big people. >> how do you know that these can be resolved? >> if you look at the issue, there are various disputes.

unless we get the politics right, we can never get the place where we can talk about the legal claims of who owns what in a potentially resourced rich region. >> thank you. in india, the government has put its cities on high alert after three simultaneous bomb blasts in the financial capital. the home minister insists there was no warning or prior intelligence about the attack which left 17 people dead and more than 100 injured in multiple locations. there is rising anger over the government's ability to prevent such strikes. >> a monsoon rains tumbledown and mumbai, the financial capital awaits for the aftermath of three simultaneous bomb blasts. close to 20 people were killed

and scores more injured when explosions ripped through crowded areas of the city during evening rush hour. witnesses in the opera house district described scenes of chaos and confusion. >> it was 6:55 and i was packing up to go home. i was watching from a window. i was so shocked that i dropped the diamonds i was carrying. i could see people panicking. >> it is this area where the largest number of people died. clues asooking to find to who may be responsible. it might be some time before a picture emerges. people are asking why this has been targeted again.

locals living at around the opera house move out. they are carrying their belongings through the debris. they come along with many others, are questioning the city's security and intelligence services. the authorities, meanwhile, have asked for time to bring the perpetrators to justice. >> is the investigation is a long process. you cannot rush to conclusions, you cannot ask for is the results. >> these are the deadliest attacks to rock mumbai since 2008. though smaller by comparison, they have shaken this commercial hub and those who call it home. the question is how best to protect the people. >> at least 14 people have been killed and several wounded in pakistan's biggest city.

the latest wave of violence was triggered by remarks by a senior government official that criticized the party speakingting the urdu majority. >> the biggest city has been shut down after another violence and night. roads remain deserted, shops, schools, offices, closed. hundreds of supporters of the dominant political group took to the streets, shouted slogans against the president and his aide, senior ministers. people are really angry. they are accusing him -- >> the efforts by the government to diffuse the tension might not be working. the trouble started wednesday night, soon after the senior

minister criticized the party and its leader. heavy gunfire could be heard in many parts of karachi. angry mobs went on a rampage, setting fire to shops and vehicles. more than one dozen people were killed. several of them are to be taken to the hospital. supporters say they will not rest and to the minister in question is removed from office. many fear that the political and ethnic tensions rising, this city of 18 million people might be in for some more volatile days ahead. >> a group of about 50 women and some men have taken to the streets of the capitol to protest about the public harassment of women. this is thought to be the first demonstration of its kind. many women say they frequently face in seoul with physical abuse including slapping and groping when they walk in the

streets, even if they are fully covered. the organizers say the harassment declared some women from leaving their homes. the mexican authorities have discovered the biggest marijuana plantation ever found in the country. it is on a huge field covering almost 300 acres which was surrounded by cactus and included a sophisticated system of pipes and irrigation. and members of the national union of journalists are staging a strike in a fight over jobs. a union members voted in favor of action in a protest. the bbc have apologized for any disruption to services that the strike may cause. if the u.s. government that proves not to be a safe investment, how about antique manuscript's? for example, jane austen's the original manuscript.

we have more on who owns the 68 pages of work. >> emma watson had an air of healthy vigor. >> an excerpt from an unpublished novel by jane austen. jane austen's father actually died which many believe to be the reason that she abandoned the story. today, the fragment was sold at auction. the bidding was fierce but interest was from around the world. [applause] >> the manuscript has just sold for a little bit under a million pounds. this was three times its estimated value.

this is a lot of money for something you can buy in book form. why pay that amount of money for the object? >> it is a very rare opportunity to buy something like this on the open market. to see jane austen's handwriting is quite different from reading a printed book. >> there is a good chance that the manuscript would go abroad but i can reveal that was bought by a british institution. they were aided by a substantial grant from the national heritage memorial fund. >> this is worth every single penny. this was the last fiction manuscript in private ownership. we felt very strongly that we needed to step in and bring it into public ownership for the enjoyment of scholars. >> virginia will said that jane austen was the most difficult

author to catch in the act of greatness. this does just that, this is a rare example. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank.

>> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.